Three days were devoted in the Chancery Court at Manchester to the hearing by Vice. Chancellor R. Lawrence, K.C., of an action arising out of leasing of a picture hall at Blackburn. The plaintiffs were the Exchange (Blackburn) Ltd., and the defendant, Robert Crompton, the famous football international, with whom was joined a…
Cinema Manager, John Darbyshire Rawlinshire fined for allowing children under the age of 14 into the cinema after 6pm without a parent or guardian
There was crowded house at Exchange Hall, Blackburn, last night see an excellent picture programme, while the variety fair was also very good. ” The Trappers” is the title of exciting tale of the Wild West, and was well received, while ” Mountebank’s Son ” was dramatic film of above the average. “The Blind Man’s…
Wilhelm Backhaus, hailed as ‘the Greatest Pianist of the World’ at the time, played at The Exchange on 6 December 1906 in the last of a few final dates closing a grand tour of Europe.
Mihály Munkácsy‘s Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) was on display at The Exchange on Saturday 4 October 1902 with tickets to view selling at sixpence. The painting depicted the public condemnation of Christ and included 70 figures covering 300 feet of canvas. It was reported in the advertisement in the Haslingden Gazette that when exhibited…
In 1901 there was a UK-wide evangelistic mission initiated by the National Council of Evangelical Free Churches. Partnership events led by inspirational preachers with Bible studies, children’s events and prayer meetings were held simultaneously over a sustained period, attracting large crowds in an attempt to stem the growing tide of secularism and bring the…
On this day in history, 30 April 1898, news was announced of modernisations and building alterations to the Exchange, Blackburn. These included relocating the stage to create a gallery to increase capacity to 350 people and moving internal pillars to improve the spectators’ view. This would also make better use of new exit doors to…
One of the world’s greatest pianists of the day, Alfred Reisenauer – a pupil of the composer Franz Liszt performed at The Exchange, Blackburn on 2 January 1896 to a disappointingly poor crowd according to the reviews in the papers of the day which described a ‘meagre attendance’. Reisenauer led a highly successful career as…
The Livermore Brothers Court Minstrels were an English minstrel band who performed in blackface during the Victorian era. The program includes “American Song & Dance,” “The Darkies Centenary,” and “The Kentucky Force,” among other acts. The show came to The Exchange on 26 March 1890. Minstrel shows began in the 1840s with other acts such…
Known as ‘La Belle Siffleuse’ (The Beautiful Whistler) since her 1886 debut at a New York charity ball, Alice Shaw was a touring sensation in the late 1880s and performed in Blackburn at the Exchange Assembly Room on 29 November 1889. Her doctors decided the high, narrow roof of her mouth produced her dazzling talent,…
In October 1889 this painting was the property of the Thwaites family and black and white artist’s proofs of this painting were exhibited for sale in The Exchange by a company called Messrs Thomas Agnew and Sons. The original of this painting was gifted to the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery in 1919 after the First…
When the Prince and Princess of Wales came to Blackburn to lay the foundation stone of the technical college in May 1888, businesses and homeowners with large front rooms with window spaces and front gardens were advertising the letting out of viewing spaces. In the days before television coverage and social media, this was the…